[Closed] chin rub, it's gonna cost ya! what's wrong with my car?

Needs a service? What history has it?

Fuel filter?

full history - was serviced before we got it about 6 weeks ago, but then I'm also not a mug and I am a firm believer that "full service" means filling the window washers and putting paper on top of the car mats

It's going in tomorrow and I get to sit about like a fud waiting for someone to look at it, but I just wanted to garner some opinion before they attempt to shaft me

not 100% sure on fords but top of the list would be

1)cleaning the throttle body with a bit of carb cleaner + realigning
2) Fuel filter/fuel pump/fuel pump relay
3) [url= http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=75196 ]Seems that some other people have had similar issues with throttle bodies[/url]

Its only history if you've receipts, otherwise just a stamp in a book...

Could be anything fuel related; so petrol, filter (fuel or air), plugs etc - or maybe electrical, but wouldn't expect at that mileage.

I used to have this kind of thing with a 1.8tdci focus. I put it down to crap turbo lag.

Could be the cat. Mate of mine had similar symptoms in a Corolla and it turned out to be the cat disintegrating.
And my other half had the same thing recently with her 1.6 308. Random power loss & juddering. Peugeot replaced the cat under warranty.

I would say change the fuel filter first, mate had a similar problem on a late escort that did the trick. I had a similar problem on an older car and it was the coil at fault. Start with the easier smaller cheaper items first.

scaled - Member

not 100% sure on fords but top of the list would be

1)cleaning the throttle body with a bit of carb cleaner + realigning
2) Fuel filter/fuel pump/fuel pump relay
3) Seems that some other people have had similar issues with throttle bodies

Yes and it's a relatively easy job to check on most Focuses. Certainly the throttle body on my 2009 petrol car was absolutely filthy and I was getting really bad kangarooing at low speed...nothing...nothing...VROOOM...nothing...

My mate had this on his focus, he had just brought it from a Ford dealer. The problem was intermittent and never seemed to happen when he took it back to the garage. We were ribbing him saying he was pulling away in 3rd on one trip back from Delemere, it got so bad we thought he was doing it on purpose. Eventually it was traced to the throttle body I can't remember if it was cleaned or replaced. I can ask him if it will be of any help.

Certainly the throttle body on my 2009 petrol car was absolutely filthy and I was getting really bad kangarooing at low speed...nothing...nothing...VROOOM...nothing...

Having had a look online the issue that keeps coming back, and the one most like the symptoms I can describe is the throttle body.

Boba Fatt - Member

Certainly the throttle body on my 2009 petrol car was absolutely filthy and I was getting really bad kangarooing at low speed...nothing...nothing...VROOOM...nothing...

Having had a look online the issue that keeps coming back, and the one most like the symptoms I can describe is the throttle body.

Protip: If you clean it, don't wedge the throttle open with something which could fit through the gap and fall into the intake manifold...

I spoke to the mate I mentioned above, he said he had the throttle bodies cleaned and it's been fine, they've been cleaned twice since 2007.

Do These have a proper throttle cable or is it electrically operated?

Could be a sticky potentiometer? I don't know how the Ford works, however generally speaking the Engine Control Unit/Engine Management System needs one attached to the butterfly spindle for the throttle opening. IIRC, some systems use inlet air speed sensors, but it's a Ford so I would guess that the electro-mechanical device is used?

From reading the above posts so far, consensus of similar problems would err towards a throttle body issue that tends to be resolved with a clean.

Not wanting to p**s on anyone's fireworks, throttle bodies are probably the simplest part on the modern car. If they are dirty, then the air filter is missing. Have you checked? What other dirt can get into a throttle body?

It's a simple butterfly valve with a return spring. I used to 'make' them with a hacksaw from old Dellorto and Weber DCOE carbs.

I just wonder if the cleaning is more to do with the potentiometer?

Basic mechanicals. There are 5 main things that can be wrong:

Lack of air (ie, air filter, throttle not moving properly)
Lack of spark (spark plugs, HT leads, coil pack)
Lack of fuel (fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel injectors)
Blocked exhaust (cat, silencer going wrong)
Electrics - air flow sensor not functioning properly / throttle position sensor gone AWOL, but this should be picked up by the ECU lamp / fault code read.

I'd start with the spark first - lowish revs, high throttle opening (ie, pulling away) needs a good strong spark.

Sound advice there Tron. 😀

Put sopme redex in the tank, drive car until warm, then accelaerate hard down a dual carrigeway or motorway, preferably in the dark, asnd see the crap fall out the back, works for all the cars ive had.

Basic mechanicals

Modern cars aren't basic though. Could be all sorts of position sensors on various things mis-reading. As above, could be throttle, or could indeed be a basic issue like ignition - the lack of power could be misfiring. Doesn't sound like it though, somehow.

Modern cars aren't basic though. Could be all sorts of position sensors on various things mis-reading.

I disagree, Tron's checklist is as valid on a new car as it is an Austin Seven. There's just a handfull of 'new' bits that can go wrong, but the same basic fault finding will lead you to them, and most of the 'new' bits replace a much more temprimental old bit.

Crank position sensor = points
ECU = vac advance
throttlebody = throttlebody (most road cars ran some variation CV carbs to make them drievable at low revs)
injectors = pilot, main needle, etc

Whilst I'd love to get a set of 45's for my midget, if I had a sensible head on I'd nick some TB's off a motorbike and get busy with megasquirt for more power and reliability.

Does it pink at all when cruising? If so its probably the coil pack, went on my 07 1.6 tivct, easy and cheap fix.

Could also be the MAF sensor, this is bolted just after the throttle body. It could have grime on it therefor it won't be able to sense the airflow. It's easy to remove but delicate. It will need cleaning if dirty, don't use a cloth, get some spray on electrical contact cleaner and blast it.

Supermarket fuel...?

Cost my brother dearly, but half of me suspected it was the stupidly low mileage he does (2k pa),& most of that spent hauling a caravan. Plus he drives like a Nun.

What the OP's car needs is a track day. Get it screaming a bit.

I don't know if a Ford Focus 1.6 petrol is the same as my Ford Transit but...

If you have less than 4% fuel left in the tank of my transit it will purposely hiccup and pretend to misfire to make you get to a fuel station as soon as possible! Its fine if you drive it with a low fuel tank and no flooring it but if you do it drives like a kangaroo!

Doubt if it's the problem you have, but you did mention you were low on fuel in the opening post.

+1 tron

Had a similar issue with a Mondeo. It was the coil packs. Changed in about 5 mins. Start with the cheapest solutions....

update - Just had the garage on the blower, they can't find anything wrong and the mechanic has allegedly taken the car out and can't feel anything wrong.

So now I'm just making it up

ECU = vac advance

Lolz!

I had a Focus which had the throttle body replaced under warranty.

At first the garage couldn't find a fault on mine...

So now I'm just making it up